June 28, 2006

In this issue …
New Nominating Committee, bylaws announced
Member service fee, voluntary checkoff support breed functions
NALF seeks member relations director
Corner Post Campaign to benefit NALJA
Add these to your NJLSC checklist
Limousin on RFD-TV the week of July 26
State, breeder coops due Aug. 1
Heifer-exposure data will aid pregnancy evaluation
Get in the breed’s corner for VQ Round 2
Board meeting scheduled for August
Reno to host industry conference
What’s news?
Limousin sales, events

To strengthen the election process for new directors, the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Board of Directors has approved three bylaws changes. They are in effect for a one-year trial to enhance the nominations and voting processes. The Board invites ongoing input from NALF members as it evaluates the changes’ effectiveness throughout the upcoming election cycle.

To increase at-large (non-Board) input on the Nominating Committee, it shall consist of the two (previously three) immediate past presidents; two current Board members not up for re-election; and three (previously two) at-large members who may be past Board members but not current Board members.

NALF President Bob Funk, Yukon, Okla., has announced the 2006-2007 Nominating Committee:

• Chairman Dave Berry, Port Orchard, Wash.; past president
• Dean Settje, Creston, Neb.; past president
• Bruce Lawrence, Anton, Texas; Board member
• Lance Sennett, Waynetown, Ind.; Board member
• Charlie Hunt, Oxford, Neb.; at-large member
• Gardiner Smith, Shelbyville, Tenn.; at-large member
• Herman Symens, Sisseton, S.D.; at-large member

To enhance fairness for all candidates – whether placed on the ballot by the Nominating Committee or at-large members – the NALF office must receive nominations by Oct. 15. For candidates to qualify for at-large nominations, signed letters of support from at least 15 different founding, lifetime or active annual members are required. During the one-year trial, nominations from the floor at the Annual Meeting are suspended. Identification of all nominees by Oct. 15 enables NALF to publicize their candidacies and include their names on the official ballot.

To make voting easier and more inclusive, those unable to attend the Annual Membership Meeting in Denver, Colo., may write the NALF office to request absentee ballots until Dec. 1. None will be issued after that date. Once members complete and sign their absentee ballots, they will mail them to NALF’s official accountant. During the one-year trial, the mail-in absentee ballots will replace the practice of members’ carrying proxy ballots to the Annual Meeting.

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Thanks to the loyal support of those who pay their member service fees, NALF has increased breed advertising, added staff for greater representation at events, developed extensive Web-based tools and offered educational programs.

Those who participate in the annual plan may register animals at half the inactive-member rates; enjoy free access to the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site; and activate complimentary subscriptions to the quarterly Bottom Line newsletter for themselves and their bull customers. While those who do not pay this year’s assessment by July 31 will have those benefits suspended, they may reactivate their memberships any time before July 31, 2007.

To generate additional resources for commercial marketing, the NALF Board approved a voluntary checkoff. NALF automatically will bill the $2 per head fee to participating member accounts when animals are registered. Enrollment is easy – just mark the space on your member service fee invoice, which mailed earlier this week. You may change your checkoff-enrollment status at any time by contacting the NALF office.

Several members, including those on the Board of Directors, already have committed to the member service plan and the commercial marketing checkoff for the coming year.

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NALF is seeking a director of member relations. The field-oriented position represents NALF at member and industry events to increase animal registrations, performance-data reporting, animal sales and transfers, and member satisfaction.

Candidates should enjoy extensive travel; have knowledge and experience in the beef cattle seedstock business; and possess strong marketing, sales and communication skills.

Direct questions, résumés and references by July 15 to Kent Andersen, Executive Vice President, North American Limousin Foundation, PO Box 4467, Englewood, CO 80155-4467.

Benjie Lemon vacated the position June 1, when he became advertising account manager for the Horse Media Group in Louisville, Colo.

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To help celebrate the 30th National Junior Limousin Show and Congress (NJLSC) and to support the breed’s future junior programs, the North American Limousin Junior Association (NALJA) will launch the Corner Post Campaign next month in Lawton, Okla.

Part of the fund-raising efforts will be the Limi Lotto at the NJLSC. It will serve as a way to fund the campaign while giving something back to NALJA’s generous supporters. One hundred squares will be sold for $100 each. The last five squares uncovered will receive prizes. Contact a NALJA Board of Directors member for more information. You do not need to be present to win.

The Corner Post Campaign – with its goal of $75,000 – will increase NALJA’s financial reserves and facilitate the eventual establishment of a charitable endowment to benefit Limousin junior activities.

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For those heading to the NJLSC, which will be July 8-14 in Lawton, Okla., the NALF office offers some reminders.

• Check tattoos before you leave home. Tattoos must be legible, and re-tattooing will not be allowed.
• Classifiers will be on hand to ensure steers meet the minimum Limousin percentage. Steers that do not meet the qualifications in the show rules will be disqualified.
• Cattle check-in will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 9, and it will go by states. The exact order will be announced at the show.

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The Cattle Show on RFD-TV will feature the Limousin breed in July. The episode covers all of the advantages of Limousin cattle from the breeding pasture to the meatcase. Limousin breeders, buyers and animal scientists share their experiences in producing, using and marketing Limousin cattle.

Satellite-TV viewers can find RFD-TV on DIRECTV Channel 379 and Dish Network Channel 9409. Mediacom and National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC) subscribers should contact their local cable-TV providers for the channel locations in their service areas.

Tentative air times and dates for the program are 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 25; 4 a.m. and noon Wednesday, July 26; and 10 p.m. Sunday, July 30. All times are Central Daylight Time (CDT). NALF will make the complete show available on digital video disc (DVD) this fall.

The NALF Board of Directors approved producing the show with sponsorship from Express Ranches and Magness Land and Cattle at its August 2005 meetings.

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NALF encourages all state associations to take full advantage of the funds available to help them promote Limousin genetics through print and radio advertising, direct mail, displays at industry events, and other marketing tactics. The key provision to getting reimbursements from NALF is that the project communicates directly to commercial producers.

Participating state associations need to develop detailed marketing budgets and schedules and submit the completed forms to NALF by Aug. 1. State-coop contacts should have received the 2006-2007 guidelines and application form in the mail. If not, they should call the NALF office or see the bottom of the “State Associations” page on the NALF Web site.

In addition, groups of four to six breeders can join forces with NALF by applying to be part of the Breeder Cooperative Advertising Program, which is entering its second year. Through Aug. 1, groups of active breeders can submit applications, specifying desired national advertisements, regional publications and publication dates. NALF will have approved advertisements customized with the breeders’ logos or names, Web or e-mail addresses or phone numbers, and sale dates or private-treaty information if applicable. The home office then will handle all insertion orders and mechanical requirements.

NALF will pay 25 percent of the cost for placing the “breeder coop” ads. The cooperating breeders will divide equally the remaining placement costs and all of the customization costs. (The publications will bill NALF, which will bill the members’ accounts in turn.) As a result, breeders can leverage their partnerships into multistate advertising for only 12 percent to 19 percent of the usual cost. Refer to the “Programs” page of the NALF Web site or contact Brad Parker at the NALF office for more information.

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The heifer-retention reporting tool now is available for Limousin Inventory Management System (LIMS) participants. To access the tool, log on to the secured, members-only portion of the NALF Web site, then click the LIMS button in the upper right corner of the screen. Once on the LIMS home page, scroll down the list of options and click “Heifer Retention Tool” to display your current heifer inventory.

LIMS participants have until Aug. 15 to report heifer-exposure information. The optional reporting will give NALF the data it needs for genetic evaluation of heifer pregnancy. It also will help ensure active LIMS inventories accurately reflect incoming replacement heifers and eliminate the need to report disposal codes for culled heifers later.

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The Limousin breed is ready for Round 2 in its latest bout to collect data for genetic evaluation and research while demonstrating how its genetics generate profit.

Since December, nearly 30 Limousin breeders and users have helped gather evidence of the breed’s improved grade, growth and docility with the feedlot and carcass data from the first Limousin Visions Quest (VQ). The project is a follow-up to the Limousin Visions Symposium, where NALF members set breed-improvement and marketing directives in December 2004.

Others now can join the project by sending cattle and learning more about cattle feeding and carcass merit as they track actual animal performance. VQ Round 2 will be another real-world lesson in producing industry-friendly seedstock and feeder cattle.

NALF encourages cooperation among Limousin breeders and their commercial customers to include a diverse sampling of the breed’s bloodlines.

Pen space is limited so NALF suggests enrollment forms arrive well before the Sept. 1 deadline. Participants then must deliver all cattle to the Colorado State University (CSU) research feedyard near Fort Collins on Nov. 1-15. NALF will help coordinate transportation as much as possible, and early enrollment also will facilitate that effort.

Program guidelines and the enrollment form are available in the “Programs” section of the NALF Web site or by contacting Bo Sexson at the NALF office.

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The NALF Board has scheduled its next meeting for Aug. 17-18 in Denver. The primary focus will be the fiscal year (FY) 2006-2007 budget. Contact a Board member or Kent Andersen in the NALF office to provide input about any breed issues.

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NALF encourages its members to participate in the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, July 10-13, in Reno, Nev. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has mailed the preregistration brochure to all of its members, but you do not have to be an NCBA member to participate. If you have questions or would like additional information about the conference or NCBA membership, call (303) 694-0305.

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NALF has issued the following news releases since the last issue of Partners:

• June 16 – Missouri Hosts Heartland Regional Junior Limousin Show
• June 21 – NALF Seeks Director of Member Relations
• June 23 – Eastern Regional Junior Limousin Show Returns to Murfreesboro
• June 23 – 75 Head of Limousin, Lim-Flex Parade at Southeast Summer Classic
• June 27 – Western Regional Junior Limousin Show Draws 61 Head
• June 27 – Western Limousin Exposition Moves to Klamath Falls

Limousin news releases are archived in the Web site’s “What’s New” section. NALF encourages its members to share them with their local news outlets.

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July 8-14 – National Junior Limousin Show & Congress (NJLSC) and All-American Limousin Futurity (AALF), Lawton, OK
July 12 – NJLSC steer, bred-and-owned, and Lim-Flex® shows, Lawton, OK
July 12 – The Sale of Sales, Lawton, OK
July 13 – NJLSC female show, Lawton, OK
July 14 – AALF, including Lim-Flex and fullblood shows, Lawton, OK
July 29 – Georgia Field Day, Athens, GA